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F. S. SMALL.

BRIDGE ABUTIVIENT CONSTRUCTION.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 9. T918.

Patented June 17, 1919.

3 SHEETS-SHEET I.

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APPLICATION FILED MAY 9. 191B.

Patented June 17, 1919.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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F. S. SMALL.

smDGE ABUTMENT CONSTRUCTION.

APPUCATION FILED MAY 9. I9l8.

Patented June 17, 1919.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

3M/vento@ Ag @Q7 612W s 'UNITED sTATEs rATENT OFFICE.

FRANK s. IsMALnvbr NEW"YOR'K,N. Y.

1 BRIDGE-ABUTMENT ooNs'rRUoTIoN To all whom t may concern Be it known that I, FRANK S. SMALL, a subject of the King vof Great Britain, re'-V siding at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inl Bridge-Abutment Construction, of which'the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in abutments for bridges andlike structures erected in rivers and similar localities, and has for one of its objects to cheapen the construction where satisfactory foundation material is at so great a depth as to render it unduly expensive to carry the masonry or concrete down to such foundation'material lVith these and' other objects in view, the invention consists in certain novel features of construction, as hereinafter shown and'4 described and then specifically pointed out in the claims; and in the drawings illustrative of the preferred embodiment of the invention- Y Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly in section, illustrating the improved construction,

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the parts shown in Fig. 1 without the concrete structure of one of the abutments, Y

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1. f

The improved apparatuscomprises two oppositely disposed abutments to support the ends of a bridge or like structure each with a foundation of crossed timbers or cribs suitably united with each other and the weight of the abutment carried on piles driven through the crib. The foundationV cribs are connected by a system of Vtimbers which couple the foundations, preferably. near their lower sides, and extend transversely of the stream over wh'ichthe bridge is to be constructed and sufficiently below the surface of the water to avoid interference with navigation and the discharge of the stream. The connecting timbers form a strut and operate to resist the pressure or horizontal thrust and obviates the necessity for carrying the abutments down to bed rock. The concrete superstructure is erected upon the foundation timber-work of each abutment. The foundation members are precisely alike and the description of one will suffice for both. The foundation structure is formed of a plurality of timbers 10 in spaced relation both vertically and horizontally and supported transversely of the Specicationof Letters Patent; Patented Jne Application led May 9, 1918. Serial No. 233,491.

stream or other bodyv of water overwhi'ch the bridge is to be constructed, and a pluralityslofytimbers 11 likewise disposed in' spaced relation both vertically and horizontally and extending longitudinally ofthe line of the stream or other body. The timbers 10 and 11 thus cross each other at right angles in cob-like relation as shown, Athe timbers 10 and 11 where they cross each other being slightly do'vetailed Aas illustrated.' A plurality of anchoring piles represented vat 12 are driven through the openings 'between the timbersk and into theV ground beneath them. The crossed and anchored timbers are shown arrangedwith an open space indicated at 13 at the land or shore vside but the vdevice may be applied to any form of abutment construction. lWillen a U-shapedY abutment is' employed, vone or more 'of the timbers 11 may be extended across the open 1 spaceas shown in Fig. 2, if deemed desirable. Theupperseries of the timbers 11 are covered by a Hoor represented at lft to receive the concrete superstructure indicated at`15. AThe upper ends" of the piles 12 exl tend above the line of the floor 111, and the upwardly projecting portions are embedded inthe concrete as shown in' Fig. 1. Prior tol the placing ofthe concrete in position a plurality of wedges illustrated at 16, will be forced between the floor 14 and each of the piles 12 to force the piles overk as far as possible toward the waterway and thusl prevent horizontal motion of the masonry when the earth or other back filling is placed. The timber work if necessary, will be further strengthened and reinforced by diagonal bra-ces, one of which is indicatedV at 17. At their lower portions the timber work foundation structure is united by a reinforcing and coupling structure composed of a plurality of timbers 18 disposedA in a plurality of horizontal rows in spaced rela' tion, the rows being maintained in separated position by `transverse vtie timbers 19. their terminals the timbers 18 extend between the'transverse members 11' ofthe abutment foundation and form continuations of the crib members. By this means the foundation crib-work of the opposite abutments are firmly coupled and united and supported from displacement or movement Atf toward each other. The coupling structure.

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amount and position of the bracing required in the coupled structure will vary according to circumstances. The coupling members 18 and 19 are maintained at a sufficient distance below the water line to prevent interference with the navigation of the stream, and likewiseV to insure constant immersion to avoid decay. v

In building bridge abutments heretofore in soft localities, the excavations are extended to safe material and this is generally an expensive operation. By employing the improved construction, it is necessary, to excavate only to a depth necessary for the timber cribs, the piles being driven tothe bottom of the excavation to safe foundation.

lThe work can be done much quicker, ldanger of interruption by floods is lessened, the amount of excavation reduced, and the concrete required in many cases will be but a fraction of that called lfor if it were cardown to firm foundation material. Long and expensive fills are often made across coves or small bays, marshes, and swamps, because it is cheaper to make the lill than to carry the road on piers owing to Y Also these fills y the bad foundation material.

may seriously obstruct the water way during flood stage By the use of the invention here described it will in many casesV be cheaper to use piers resting on a crib and pile foundation than to lill the depressed localities. Y

Having thus describedk the invention, what is claimed as new is:

l. A structure of the class described including spaced cribs formed of interlocking longitudinal and transverse timbers, tie members connecting` the lower port-ions of the cribs below the water line of the structure and interlocked with the transverse timbers thereof, piles extending vertically through the cribs, and means engaging the piles for bracing them against the transverse timbers of the cribs.

2. A structure of the class described including spaced cribs formed of interlocking longitudinal and transverse timbers, tie members of less height than the cribs connecting the lower portions of the latter below the water line of the structure and interlocked with the transverse timbers of said cribs, a floor for each crib, piles extending lthrough the cribs and projecting above the adjacent `floor, and wedge devices bearing against the piles at said floor for forcing saidpiles in engagement with the transverse timbers of the cribs.

8. A structure of the class described including spaced cribs formed of interengaging longitudinal and transverse timbers, tie members connecting the cribs below the water line of the structure and of less height than said cribs, a floor for each crib provided with openings having slots communicating therewith, piles extending` through the openings in the' floors and bearing against adjacent transverse timbers ,of the cribs with their upperends projecting above the floor line, and wedges inserted in the slots and bearing against the piles.

`4l. A structure of the class described including spaced cribs formed of interengaging longitudinal and transverse timbers, longitudinal superposed tie members con necting the cribs below the water line of the structure and of a combined height less than the height of said cribs, a floor forming a top for eachcrib, piles bearing against the transverse timbers `of the cribs and having their upper ends extended through and projecting above the ifoors, and a superstructure formed of cement resting on the floor of each crib and covering the projecting ends of the piles.

5. A structure of the class described including spaced cribs formed of interengagw ing longitudinal and transverse timbers extending the entire height and width of the cribs, tie members connecting the lower portions of the cribs and extending therethrough and interlocked with the transverse timbers of the cribs, a floor for each crib, there being slots formed in the floor, piles extending through the floor and bearing against adjacent transverse timbers of the cribs, the upper ends of said piles being extended above the floor line of the cribs, wedges insertible in the slots above the floor line and bearing against the piles for forcing the piles into engagement with the adjacent transverse timbers ,of the cribs, and a concrete superstructure mounted on the door of each crib and covering the projecting ends of the piles and said wedges.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

FRANK S. SMALL [.L. s]

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, byeddressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

